Pilot in critical after Cessna crash in Humboldt

DINSMORE, Calif. 
The pilot of a small plane that crashed while trying to land at a Humboldt County airport remains in critical condition, days after the accident.

Flight instructor Dennis Lichty was flying with a student Friday when their Cessna 172-E went down near the remote Dinsmore airport.

Lichty was hospitalized with broken bones and facial injuries, and his condition went from serious to critical over the weekend. He underwent facial surgery Monday at UC Davis Medical Center.

The student pilot, Tyler Lewis, escaped with only minor injuries.

He told The Times-Standard of Eureka (
http://bit.ly/wHgfNd
) that he flew out of Garberville and asked Lichty to take over when they hit turbulence. As they approached the runway, a gust of wind pushed the plane off course. Lewis says Lichty tried to take corrective measures, but the plane stalled.